Baked Baby Eggplant Food

STUFFED BABY EGGPLANTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplants in half, and use a sharp knife to cut around the outer edge leaving a small border without piercing the skin.
• Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, and finely chop it.
• Place the eggplants cut side up on a baking sheet.
• In a frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat, and then cook the onion until it is translucent, and 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic and eggplant flesh, and continue to cook until soft, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and cook another 5 minutes until the mixture is thick.
• Remove the pan from the stove and stir in the eggs, cheese, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Spoon the filling in to the eggplant shells, and top with the grated cheese.
• Bake until puffed and golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Serve at room temperature.

ROASTED EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and arrange three racks evenly spaced.
• Lay the eggplant in one layer on three sheet pans and brush both sides with olive oil, using all the oil. Sprinkle with the oregano, crushing it lightly in your hands, then sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Bake for 15 minutes. Turn the slices and rotate the pans in the oven and bake for another 10 minutes, until tender. Leave the oven at 400 degrees F.
• In a 10 by 14 by 2-inch ceramic baking dish, spread a third of the marinara sauce. Arrange a third of the eggplant on top in one layer. Scatter a third of the basil, a third of the mozzarella, a third of the goat cheese, and a third of the Parmesan on top. Repeat twice, starting with the marinara and ending with the Parmesan, making sure each layer is evenly distributed.
• For the topping, place the bread crumbs, garlic, and basil in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt and pulse to moisten the crumbs. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dish.
• Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until bubbling and golden brown. Allow to sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.

ROASTED EGGPLANT WITH GARLIC AND HERBS

Steps:

• Put the eggplant pieces in a large colander and sprinkle all over with the 2 tablespoons kosher salt. Set in the sink to drain for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Put a baking sheet in the oven to heat for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel and finely chop the shallot and garlic, and push to the side of the cutting board. Chop the parsley, then draw the shallots and garlic in with the herbs and chop them together, until finely chopped. Stir the aromatics and walnut oil together in a serving bowl.
• Toss the purged eggplant with the olive oil and pepper. Carefully remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and brush or drizzle with olive oil. Spread the eggplant out on the pan and return to the oven. Roast until the eggplant is tender yet firm and rich brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, toss with garlic and herbs. Serve right away or at room temperature.

MOM'S STUFFED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the eggplant in half and scoop out the center, leaving enough meat inside the skin so that it holds its shape when baked. Boil the scooped-out center part until very soft, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saute pan heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper. Add the seasoned ground beef to the pan and saute until all of its liquid is evaporated and the beef begins to brown slightly. Drain the beef, removing the extra, unnecessary fat. Let cool briefly and chop the cooked beef so that there are no large chunks of meat. In another medium saute pan over medium heat add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and saute the onions, peppers and garlic together.
• In a bowl mix together the cooked eggplant, vegetables, cooked beef, herbs, 1 cup of the cheese, bread crumbs, and the egg.
• Fill the scooped-out eggplant halves with this mixture, dividing it evenly among the 2 halves.
• Top with chopped tomatoes and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated cheese, season with salt and pepper, place on an oiled oven tray or baking dish, and bake for 50 minutes in preheated oven. Let cool briefly, slice widthwise and serve.

MINI EGGPLANT PARMESAN

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat the oil in a heavy medium saucepan over medium. Add the garlic, shallots and salt. Stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, basil, oregano and crushed red pepper. Simmer the sauce until the flavors blend and the sauce thickens, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Mix in the vinegar.
• For the eggplant: Mix the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Place the panko breadcrumbs in another shallow bowl. Whisk the egg whites in a medium bowl until frothy. Dip each eggplant slice in the flour mixture, then into the beaten egg whites, and then into the panko breadcrumbs to coat completely.
• Heat the oil in a heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat until hot (the surface will appear to be shimmering), 2 to 3 minutes. Add half of the eggplant slices. Cook until deep golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the eggplant to a paper-towel-lined plate. Fry the remaining eggplant. (Can be made 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Preheat a broiler. Toss the mozzarella and Parmesan in a small bowl until well blended. Spread 1 generous teaspoon of the sauce over each eggplant slice. Top with a rounded teaspoon of the cheese mixture; spread out to cover and press lightly to adhere. Transfer the eggplant slices to a rimmed baking sheet. Broil until the cheese has melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mini eggplant parmesans to a platter and garnish each with small basil leaf. Let stand 2 to 3 minutes before serving.

STUFFED BABY EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Using a paring knife, cut a wedge out of each eggplant, from stem to base, just large enough to stick a spoon inside and scoop out the flesh inside. Discard the flesh you scoop out.
• Coat a large saute pan with the oil and place over medium flame. Lightly fry the eggplants on all sides, until slightly charred and blistered; remove to a platter and set aside.
• Return the pan to the heat and add the shallots and garlic, saute for 5 minutes, until soft and golden brown. Add the ground lamb to the pan and brown the meat well, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Stir in the tomatoes, combine well, and let simmer for 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Toss in a couple of handfuls of the parsley, the mint, and lemon juice; continue to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the stuffing cool slightly. Using a spoon, stuff the lamb filling into the eggplants until they feel full, but not overly packed.
• Arrange the eggplants in a single layer in a large saucepan, pour the chicken stock over them and lay the lemon slices on top of each eggplant, drizzle with some more olive oil. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until fork tender. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

BAKED STUFFED BABY EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise then make shallow cuts in cut side at 1/2-inch intervals.
• Brush cut sides with 1 teaspoon olive oil and place eggplants, cut-side down, on greased baking sheet.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until tender with fork, remove from oven to cool and reduce oven heat to 350 degrees.
• In a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat until hot.
• Add garlic, onion and red pepper; sauté for one minute until tender.
• Next, add rice through tomatoes, stir together well.
• Scoop out eggplant pulp from each halve leaving 1/2-inch thick shells and set shells aside.
• Chop pulp, add to rice mixture and mix well.
• Spoon mixture evenly into eggplant shells, sprinkle with cheese, cover and bake for 20 minutes.
• Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Garnish with more fresh basil and feta cheese, if desired.

BAKED EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Prepare a baking dish with non-stick play.
• Arrange eggplant and tomato slices into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Drizzle olive oil over the vegetables; season with oregano, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the entire mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven until the cheese is beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Switch oven broiler to high; continue baking until completely browned, about 5 minutes.

ROASTED BABY EGGPLANT, TOMATO, AND ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Put eggplant cubes in a colander set over a bowl. Sprinkle salt liberally over the eggplant cubes; let sit to drain for 30 minutes.
• Toss tomatoes, zucchini, onion, and garlic together in a bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the mixture and toss to coat; season with salt and pepper.
• Rinse eggplant to remove salt and pat dry with paper towel; add to the tomato mixture and stir. Add olive oil as necessary to assure the eggplant cubes are coated. Spread the vegetable mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Roast in preheated oven until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.

BAKED BABY EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Peel skin off eggplant
• Slice lengthwise 1/4 inch strips.
• Slice up tomato 1/4 inch
• Chop up all herbs discarding stalk.
• Chop up garlic
• In a casserole dish sprinkle some olive oil.
• Place a layer of eggplant, layer of tomato and sprinkle half the herbs & garlic
• Sprinkle some olive oil, salt & pepper on top.
• Sprinkle half the bread crumbs on tops.
• Repeat another full layer of eggplant, tomato, herbs,garlic, oil, salt & pepper and breadcrumbs on top.
• Cover casserole dish and bake at 375 for 45 minutes.
• Remove cover and sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.
• Bake another 5 minutes.
• You can use small amounts of Italian cheese, goat cheese, or monteray cheese inbetween layers as well for variation. Ive made it many ways. All delicious.
• Enjoy.